Speaker's Bureau
Welcome to the Speaker's Bureau at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary! The following guides are designed to help you plan and build effective programs for your congregation or organization. It offers information on a variety of resources available to you through Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.
Speakers listed in this guide would be appropriate for adult forums, Bible studies, workshops, retreats and seminars. Whether you only need one speaker for a single occasion, or are planning a series around a certain topic, be creative in combining ideas and individuals.
Nearly everyone listed in this guide has both voice mail and e-mail. You may contact the speakers directly. Please note, many speakers are booked months in advance, so be sure to contact them early.
You can access biographies for faculty members using our faculty directory.
Faculty Listing
Cheryl Anderson (To Top)
Professor of Old Testament
847-866-3979
TOPICS
• African-American/Black Ministries
• Bible - Old Testament
• Feminist Theology
• HIV/AIDS
• Liberation Theology
• Womanist Theology
E. Byron (Ron) Anderson (To Top)
Ernest and Bernice Styberg Professor of Worship
Director Nellie B. Ebersole Program in Music Ministry
847-866-3875
TOPICS
• Church Music and Hymns
• Liturgy
• Prayer
• Spiritual Formation
• Worship and Liturgy
• Developing the Congregation’s Voice
• Planning and Leading a Hymn Festival
• Worship in the United Methodist Tradition
• Worship and Christian Formation
Nancy Bedford (To Top)
Georgia Harkness Professor of Applied Theology
847-866-3931
TOPICS
• Christology
• Church and Society
• Creeds
• Current Events and the Church
• Discernment/Call/Vocation
• Ecumenism
• Feminist Theology
• Hispanic/Latino Ministries
• Liberation Theology
• Mission of the Church
• Prayer
• Social and Global Justice
• Theology
• Womanist Theology
Reginold Blount (To Top)
Associate Professor of Formation, Youth, and Culture
847-866-3962
TOPICS
• Adolescent and Young Adult Identity Formation
• African American/Black Ministries
• Black Church Studies
• Christian Education
• Youth Ministry
Gennifer Brooks (To Top)
Ernest and Bernice Styberg Associate Professor of Homiletics
Director of the Styberg Preaching Institute
847-866-3888
TOPICS
• African-American/Black Ministries
• Congregational Life
• Current Events and the Church
• Discernment/Call/Vocation
• Liturgy
• Mission of the Church
• Prayer
• Stewardship
• United Methodist History/Doctrine
• United Methodist Ordination - Deacons and Elders
• Urban Ministries
• Worship and Liturgy
Barry Bryant (To Top)
Associate Professor United Methodist and Wesleyan Studies
847-866-3955
TOPICS
• Israeli/Palestinian Relations
• John Wesley
• Methodist Studies
• Social and Global Justice
• United Methodist History/Doctrine
• United Methodist Ordination - Deacons and Elders
• Wesley/Wesleyan Theology
Charles Cosgrove (To Top)
Professor of Early Christian Literature
847-866-3880
TOPICS
• Bible – New Testament
• Bible – Book of Romans
• Early Christian Worship
• Early Christian Writings
• Pauline Theology
Margaret Ann Crain (To Top)
Professor of Christian Education
847-866-3973
TOPICS
• Aging
• Children and Youth Ministries
• Congregational Life
• Current Events and the Church
• Discernment/Call/Vocation
• Mission of the Church
• United Methodist History/Doctrine
• United Methodist Ordination - Deacons and Elders
Ruth Duck (To Top)
Professor of Worship
847-866-3978
TOPICS
• Church Music and Hymns
• Congregational Life
• Feminist Theology
• Liturgy
• Prayer
• Urban Ministries
• Worship and Liturgy
Julie Duncan (To Top)
Associate Professor of Old Testament
847-866-3934
TOPICS
• Bible – Old Testament
• Dead Sea Scrolls
• Feminist Theology
• Liberation Theology
Mark Fowler (To Top)
The Murray H. Leiffer Assistant Professor of Congregational Leadership
Executive Director of the Institute for Transformative Leaders and Communities
847-866-3863
TOPICS
• Congregational Life
• Discernment/Call/Vocation
• Stewardship
• United Methodist History/Doctrine
• United Methodist Ordination - Deacons and Elders
David Heetland (To Top)
Vice President for Development
847-866-3970
TOPICS
• Financial Planning
• Garrett-Evangelical
• Planned Giving
• Stewardship
David Hogue (To Top)
Professor of Pastoral Theology and Counseling
847-866-3983
TOPICS
• LGBTQ and Gender Issues
• Marriage and Family Counseling
• Pastoral Care and Counseling
• Pastoral Psychotherapy
Pam Holliman (To Top)
Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology and Pastoral Psychotherapy
847-866-3980
TOPICS
• LGBTQ and Gender Issues
• Marriage and Family Counseling
• Pastoral Care and Counseling
• Pastoral Psychotherapy
• Sexual Ethics
Anne Joh (To Top)
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology
847-866-3974
TOPICS
• Asian Theology and Issues
• Feminist Theology
• Gender, Race, and Ethnic Studies
• Liberation Theology
• Postcolonial Theology
• Queer Theology
• Systematic Theology
Anna Johnson (To Top)
Visiting Assistant Professor of Reformation Church History
847-866-3960
TOPICS
• Church History - Reformation
• Martin Luther
Dwight Judy (To Top)
Professor of Spiritual Formation
847-866-3935
TOPICS
• Congregational Life
• Prayer
• Spiritual Formation
Virginia Lee (To Top)
Associate Professor of Christian Education
Director of Deacon Studies
TOPICS
• Children and Youth Ministries
• Congregational Life
• Current Events and the Church
• Discernment/Call/Vocation
• Mission of the Church
• United Methodist History/Doctrine
• United Methodist Ordination - Deacons and Elders
Brooke Lester (To Top)
Associate Professor of Hebrew Scripture
Director of Emerging Pedagogies
847-866-3949
TOPICS
• Bible – Old Testament
• Emerging Pedagogies (Online learning, podcasts, etc.)
Larry Murphy (To Top)
Professor of the History of Christianity
847-866-3977
TOPICS
• African-American/Black Ministries
• Films and Christianity
• History of Christianity – Reformation to Present
Jim Papandrea (To Top)
Assistant Professor of Church History
847-866-3953
TOPICS
• Bible – Book of Revelation
• Christology
• Creeds
• Early Christian Writings
• Eucharist
• History of Christianity – Early Christianity
• Trinity
• United Methodist Ordination – Deacons and Elders
Hendrik Pieterse (To Top)
Associate Professor of Global Christianity and World Religions
847-866-3892
TOPICS
• Ecumenism
• Global Christianity
• Mission
• Theology
• Trinity
• United Methodist History/Doctrine
• United Methodist Ordination - Deacons and Elders
• World Religions
Stephen Ray (To Top)
Neal F. and Illa A. Fisher Professor of Systematic Theology
847-866-3865
TOPICS
• African-American/Black Ministries
• Christology
• Ethics
• Theology
• Trinity
• Womanist Theology
Lallene Rector (To Top)
Associate Professor Psychology of Religion and Pastoral Psychotherapy
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Academic Dean
847-866-3904
TOPICS
• Feminist Theology
• Garrett-Evangelical
• LGBTQ and Gender Issues
• Pastoral Care and Counseling
• Pastoral Psychotherapy
Jack Seymour (To Top)
Professor of Religious Education
847-866-3904
TOPICS
• Christian Education
• Congregational Life
• Discernment/Call/Vocation
• Mission of the Church
Mark Teasdale (To Top)
E. Stanley Jones Assistant Professor of Evangelism
847-866-3954
TOPICS
• Church Planting
• Evangelism
• John Wesley
• Methodist Studies
• Mission
• United Methodist Doctrine/History
• United Methodist Ordination – Deacon and Elder
Osvaldo Vena (To Top)
Professor of New Testament Interpretation
847-866-3867
TOPICS
• Christology
• Bible – New Testament
• Hispanic/Latino/a Latin-American Theology and Issues
• Immigration – Hispanic
Brent Waters (To Top)
Jerre and Mary Joy Stead Professor of Christian Social Ethics
Director of the Stead Center for Ethics and Values
847-866-3933
TOPICS
• Aging
• Current Events and the Church
• Economics
• Ethics
• Medical Ethics
• Science and Religion
• Theology
Topical Listing
African-American/Black Ministries (To Top)
Cheryl Anderson
Professor of Old Testament
847-866-3979
Reginold Blount
Associate Professor of Formation, Youth, and Culture
847-866-3962
Gennifer Benjamin Brooks
Ernest and Bernice Styberg Associate Professor of Homiletics
Director of the Styberg Preaching Institute
847-866-3888
Larry Murphy
Professor of the History of Christianity
847-866-3977
Stephen Ray
Neal F. and Illa A. Fisher Professor of Systematic Theology
847-866-386
Aging (To Top)
Margaret Ann Crain
Professor of Christian Education
847-866-3973
Brent Waters
Associate Professor of Christian Social Ethics
Director of the Stead Center for Ethics and Values
847-866-3933
Asian/Asian-American Ministries (To Top)
Anne Joh
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology
847-866-3974
Bible (To Top)
Cheryl Anderson
Professor of Old Testament
847-866-3979
Julie Duncan
Associate Professor of Old Testament
847-866-3934
Brooke Lester
Associate Professor of Hebrew Scripture
Director of Emerging Pedagogies
847-866-3949
Osvaldo Vena
Professor of New Testament Interpretation
847-866-3867
Children and Youth Ministries (To Top)
Margaret Ann Crain
Professor of Christian Education
847-866-3973
Reginold Blount
Associate Professor of Formation, Youth, and Culture
847-866-3962
Virginia Lee
Associate Professor of Christian Education
Director of Deacon Studies
Jack Seymour
Professor of Religious Education
847-866-3904
Christology (To Top)
Nancy Bedford
Georgia Harkness Professor of Applied Theology
847-866-3931
Anne Joh
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology
847-866-3974
Jim Papandrea
Assistant Professor of Church History
847-866-3953
Hendrik Pieterse
Associate Professor of Global Christianity and World Religions
847-866-3892
Stephen Ray
Neal F. and Illa A. Fisher Professor of Systematic Theology
847-866-3865
Osvaldo Vena
Professor of New Testament Interpretation
847-866-3867
Church and Society (To Top)
Nancy Bedford
Georgia Harkness Professor of Applied Theology
847-866-3931
Anne Joh
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology
847-866-3974
Hendrik Pieterse
Associate Professor of Global Christianity and World Religions
847-866-3892
Stephen Ray
Neal F. and Illa A. Fisher Professor of Systematic Theology
847-866-3865
Church History (To Top)
Anna Johnson
Visiting Assistant Professor of Reformation Church History
847-866-3960
Larry Murphy
Professor of the History of Christianity
847-866-3977
Jim Papandrea
Assistant Professor of Church History
847-866-3953
Church Music and Hymns (To Top)
E. Byron (Ron) Anderson
Ernest and Bernice Styberg Professor of Worship
Director Nellie B. Ebersole Program in Music Ministry
847-866-3875
Ruth Duck
Professor of Worship
847-866-3978
Congregational Life (To Top)
E. Byron (Ron) Anderson
Ernest and Bernice Styberg Professor of Worship
Director Nellie B. Ebersole Program in Music Ministry
847-866-3875
Gennifer Benjamin Brooks
Ernest and Bernice Styberg Associate Professor of Homiletics
Director of the Styberg Preaching Institute
847-866-3888
Margaret Ann Crain
Professor of Christian Education
847-866-3973
Mark Fowler
Associate Professor of Church Leadership
Executive Director of the Institute for Transformative Leaders and Communiities
847-866-3863
Dwight Judy
Professor of Spiritual Formation
847-866-3935
Virginia Lee
Associate Professor of Christian Education
Director of Deacon Studies
Jack Seymour
Professor of Religious Education
847-866-3904
Creeds (To Top)
Nancy Bedford
Georgia Harkness Professor of Applied Theology
847-866-3931
Charles Cosgrove
Professor of Early Christian Literature
847-866-3880
Jim Papandrea
Assistant Professor of Church History
847-866-3953
Current Events and the Church (To Top)
Nancy Bedford
Georgia Harkness Professor of Applied Theology
847-866-3931
Gennifer Benjamin Brooks
Ernest and Bernice Styberg Associate Professor of Homiletics
Director of the Styberg Preaching Institute
847-866-3888
Margaret Ann Crain
Professor of Christian Education
847-866-3973
Mark Fowler
Associate Professor of Church Leadership
Executive Director
of the Institute for Transformative Leaders and Communities
847-866-3863
Virginia Lee
Associate Professor of Christian Education
Director of Deacon Studies
Hendrik Pieterse
Associate Professor of Global Christianity and World Religions
847-866-3892
Brent Waters
Jerre and Mary Joy Stead Professor of Christian Social Ethics
Director of the Stead Center for Ethics and Values
847-866-3933
Discernment/Call/Vocation (To Top)
Nancy Bedford
Georgia Harkness Professor of Applied Theology
847-866-3931
Gennifer Benjamin Brooks
Ernest and Bernice Styberg Associate Professor of Homiletics
Director of the Styberg Preaching Institute
847-866-3888
Margaret Ann Crain
Professor of Christian Education
847-866-3973
Mark Fowler
Associate Professor of Church Leadership
Executive Director of the Institute for Transformative Leaders and Communities
847-866-3863
Dwight Judy
Professor of Spiritual Formation
847-866-3935
Virginia Lee
Associate Professor of Christian Education
Director of Deacon Studies
Jack Seymour
Professor of Religious Education
847-866-3904
Early Church History (To Top)
Charles Cosgrove
Professor of Early Christian Literature
847-866-3880
Jim Papandrea
Assistant Professor of Church History
847-866-3953
Economics (To Top)
Brent Waters
Jerre and Mary Joy Stead Professor of Christian Social Ethics
Director of the Stead Center for Ethics and Values
847-866-3933
Ecumenism (To Top)
Nancy Bedford
Georgia Harkness Professor of Applied Theology
847-866-3931
Hendrik Pieterse
Associate Professor of Global Christianity and World Religions
847-866-3892
Ethics (To Top)
Brent Waters
Jerre and Mary Joy Stead Professor of Christian Social Ethics
Director of the Stead Center for Ethics and Values
847-866-3933
Evangelism (To Top)
Mark Teasdale
E. Stanley Jones Assistant Professor of Evangelism
847-866-3954
Feminist Theology (To Top)
Cheryl Anderson
Professor of Old Testament
847-866-3979
Nancy Bedford
Georgia Harkness Professor of Applied Theology
847-866-3931
Ruth Duck
Professor of Worship
847-866-3978
Julie Duncan
Associate Professor of Old Testament
847-866-3934
Anne Joh
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology
847-866-3974
Lallene Rector
Associate Professor Psychology of Religion and Pastoral Psychotherapy
Vice President for Development for Academic Affairs
Academic Dean
847-866-3904
Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgendered Issues and the Church (To Top)
David Hogue
Professor of Pastoral Theology and Counseling
847-866-3983
Pam Holliman
Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology and Pastoral Psychotherapy
847-866-3980
Anne Joh
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology
847-866-3974
Lallene Rector
Associate Professor Psychology of Religion and Pastoral Psychotherapy
Vice President for Development for Academic Affairs
Academic Dean
847-866-3904
Garrett-Evangelical
Theological Seminary (To Top)
Margararet Ann Crain
Professor of Christian Education
847-866-3973
David Heetland
Vice President for Development for Development
847-866-3970
Lallene Rector
Associate Professor Psychology of Religion and Pastoral Psychotherapy
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Academic Dean
847-866-3904
Hispanic/Latino/Latina Ministries (To Top)
Nancy Bedford
Georgia Harkness Professor of Applied Theology
847-866-3931
Osvaldo Vena
Professor of New Testament Interpretation
847-866-3867
HIV/AIDS (To Top)
Cheryl Anderson
Professor of Old Testament
847-866-3979
Liberation Theology (To Top)
Cheryl Anderson
Professor of Old Testament
847-866-3979
Nancy Bedford
Georgia Harkness Professor of Applied Theology
847-866-3931
Julie Duncan
Associate Professor of Old Testament
847-866-3934
Anne Joh
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology
847-866-3974
Stephen Ray
Neal F. and Illa A. Fisher Professor of Systematic Theology
847-866-3865
Liturgy (To Top)
E. Byron (Ron) Anderson
Ernest and Bernice Styberg Professor of Worship
Director Nellie B. Ebersole Program in Music Ministry
847-866-3875
Gennifer Benjamin Brooks
Ernest and Bernice Styberg Associate Professor of Homiletics
Director of the Styberg Preaching Institute
847-866-3888
Ruth Duck
Professor of Worship
847-866-3978
Medical Ethics (To Top)
Brent Waters
Jerre and Mary Joy Stead Professor of Christian Social Ethics
Director of the Stead Center for Ethics and Values
847-866-3933
Mission of the Church (To Top)
Nancy Bedford
Georgia Harkness Professor of Applied Theology
847-866-3931
Gennifer Benjamin Brooks
Ernest and Bernice Styberg Associate Professor of Homiletics
Director of the Styberg Preaching Institute
847-866-3888
Margaret Ann Crain
Professor of Christian Education
847-866-3973
Mark Fowler
Associate Professor of Church Leadership
Executive Director of the Institute for Transformative Leaders and Communities
847-866-3863
Virginia Lee
Associate Professor of Christian Education
Director of Deacon Studies
Pastoral Care and Counseling Topics (To Top)
David Hogue
Professor of Pastoral Theology and Counseling
847-866-3983
Pam Holliman
Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology and Pastoral Psychotherapy
847-866-3980
Lallene Rector
Associate Professor Psychology of Religion and Pastoral Psychotherapy
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Academic Dean
847-866-3904
Prayer (To Top)
E. Byron (Ron) Anderson
Ernest and Bernice Styberg Professor of Worship
Director Nellie B. Ebersole Program in Music Ministry
847-866-3875
Nancy Bedford
Georgia Harkness Professor of Applied Theology
847-866-3931
Gennifer Benjamin Brooks
Ernest and Bernice Styberg Associate Professor of Homiletics
Director of the Styberg Preaching Institute
847-866-3888
Ruth Duck
Professor of Worship
847-866-3978
Dwight Judy
Professor of Spiritual Formation
847-866-3935
Science and Religion (To Top)
Brent Waters
Jerre and Mary Joy Stead Professor of Christian Social Ethics
Director of the Stead Center for Ethics and Values
847-866-3933
Sexual Ethics (To Top)
Pam Holliman
Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology and Pastoral Psychotherapy
847-866-3980
Lallene Rector
Associate Professor Psychology of Religion and Pastoral Psychotherapy
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Academic Dean
847-866-3904
Social and Global Justice (To Top)
Nancy Bedford
Georgia Harkness Professor of Applied Theology
847-866-3931
Barry Bryant
Associate Professor United Methodist and Wesleyan Studies
847-866-3955
Anne Joh
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology
847-866-3974
Hendrik Pieterse
Associate Professor of Global Christianity and World Religions
847-866-3892
Stephen Ray
Neal F. and Illa A. Fisher Professor of Systematic Theology
847-866-3865
Brent Waters
Jerre and Mary Joy Stead Professor of Christian Social Ethics
Director of the Stead Center for Ethics and Values
847-866-3933
Spiritual Formation (To Top)
E. Byron (Ron) Anderson
Ernest and Bernice Styberg Professor of Worship
Director Nellie B. Ebersole Program in Music Ministry
847-866-3875
Dwight Judy
Professor of Spiritual Formation
847-866-3935
Stewardship (To Top)
Gennifer Benjamin Brooks
Ernest and Bernice Styberg Associate Professor of Homiletics
Director of the Styberg Preaching Institute
847-866-3888
Mark Fowler
Associate Professor of Church Leadership
Executive Director of the Institute for Transformative Leaders and Communities
847-866-3863
David Heetland
Vice President for Development
847-866-3970
Theology (To Top)
Nancy Bedford
Georgia Harkness Professor of Applied Theology
847-866-3931
Anne Joh
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology
847-866-3974
Hendrik Pieterse
Associate Professor of Global Christianity and World Religions
847-866-3892
Stephen Ray
Neal F. and Illa A. Fisher Professor of Systematic Theology
847-866-3865
Brent Waters
Jerre and Mary Joy Stead Professor of Christian Social Ethics
Director of the Stead Center for Ethics and Values
847-866-3933
United Methodist History/Doctrine (To Top)
Gennifer Benjamin Brooks
Ernest and Bernice Styberg Associate Professor of Homiletics
Director of the Styberg Preaching Institute
847-866-3888
Barry Bryant
Associate Professor United Methodist and Wesleyan Studies
847-866-3955
Margaret Ann Crain
Professor of Christian Education
847-866-3973
Mark Fowler
Associate Professor of Church Leadership
Executive Director of the Institute for Transformative Leaders and Communities
847-866-3863
Hendrik Pieterse
Associate Professor of Global Christianity and World Religions
847-866-3892
Mark Teasdale
E. Stanley Jones Assistant Professor of Evangelism
847-866-3954
United Methodist Ordination: Deacons and Elders (To Top)
Gennifer Benjamin Brooks
Ernest and Bernice Styberg Associate Professor of Homiletics
Director of the Styberg Preaching Institute
847-866-3888
Barry Bryant
Associate Professor United Methodist and Wesleyan Studies
847-866-3955
Margaret Ann Crain
Professor of Christian Education
847-866-3973
Mark Fowler
Associate Professor of Church Leadership
Executive Director of the Institute for Transformative Leaders and Communities
847-866-3863
Virginia Lee
Associate Professor of Christian Education
Director of Deacon Studies
Hendrik Pieterse
Associate Professor of Global Christianity and World Religions
847-866-3892
Mark Teasdale
E. Stanley Jones Assistant Professor of Evangelism
847-866-3954
Urban Ministries (To Top)
Gennifer Benjamin Brooks
Ernest and Bernice Styberg Associate Professor of Homiletics
Director of the Styberg Preaching Institute
847-866-3888
Ruth Duck
Professor of Worship
847-866-3978
Mark Fowler
Associate Professor of Church Leadership
Executive Director of the Institute for Transformative Leaders and Communities
847-866-3863
Wesley/Wesleyan Theology (To Top)
Barry Bryant
Associate Professor United Methodist and Wesleyan Studies
847-866-3955
Hendrik Pieterse
Associate Professor of Global Christianity and World Religions
847-866-3892
Mark Teasdale
E. Stanley Jones Assistant Professor of Evangelism
847-866-3954
Womanist Theology (To Top)
Cheryl Anderson
Professor of Old Testament
847-866-3979
Nancy Bedford
Georgia Harkness Professor of Applied Theology
847-866-3931
Stephen Ray
Neal F. and Illa A. Fisher Professor of Systematic Theology
847-866-3865
World Religions (To Top)
Hendrik Pieterse
Associate Professor of Global Christianity and World Religions
847-866-3892
Worship (To Top)
E. Byron (Ron) Anderson
Ernest and Bernice Styberg Professor of Worship
Director Nellie B. Ebersole Program in Music Ministry
847-866-3875
Gennifer Benjamin Brooks
Ernest and Bernice Styberg Associate Professor of Homiletics
Director of the Styberg Preaching Institute
847-866-3888
Charles Cosgrove
Professor of Early Christian Literature
847-866-3880
Ruth Duck
Professor of Worship
847-866-3978
Garrett-Evangelical, a seminary related to